What happens if the government shuts down?

Tuesday

Apr 5, 2011 at 12:01 AMApr 5, 2011 at 4:17 AM

That question is getting plenty of airtime this week as U.S. lawmakers spar over a budget.

The Associated Press reported today that House Speaker John Boehner said that private talks with President Barack Obama failed to produce a deal to avoid a government shutdown. The speaker warned that House Republicans "will not be put in a box" of accepting options they refuse to endorse.

Friday is the deadline to avoid a shutdown. The AP says the White House has begun advising government agencies on the proper steps in preparation for a shutdown of the government.

So when we hear about a government shut down, what exactly does that mean? Here are a couple of good links that explain what's likely to occur:

From FoxNews.com:† Government funding runs out Friday, but Congress has to reach a deal by the end of the day Tuesday if it wants to avoid a lapse in federal finances. But not all federal agencies will suffer equally if lawmakers fail to approve another short-term stopgap measure or long-term FY 2011 budget bill in time.

From The Daily Beast: How did we get here? Democrats didnít pass a 2011 budget last yearó instead, they passed a placeholder resolution. Then Republicans shellacked Democrats in midterm elections, bringing in Tea Partiers fiercely dedicated to cutting the federal budget.

And Register Star blogger Ted Biondo wrote this back in February, when the shutdown was looming:Itís time for the Democrats to stop spending more than they take from us in taxes. The Democrats need to listen to the will of the majority of the American people from the last election or they will hear it loud and clear in 2012, when 21 Democratic Senate seats, with 2 independent seats†and only 10 Republican seats are up for election out of the 33 total.

doug gass

That question is getting plenty of airtime this week as U.S. lawmakers spar over a budget.

The Associated Press reported today that House Speaker John Boehner said that private talks with President Barack Obama failed to produce a deal to avoid a government shutdown. The speaker warned that House Republicans "will not be put in a box" of accepting options they refuse to endorse.

Friday is the deadline to avoid a shutdown. The AP says the White House has begun advising government agencies on the proper steps in preparation for a shutdown of the government.

So when we hear about a government shut down, what exactly does that mean? Here are a couple of good links that explain what's likely to occur:

From FoxNews.com:† Government funding runs out Friday, but Congress has to reach a deal by the end of the day Tuesday if it wants to avoid a lapse in federal finances. But not all federal agencies will suffer equally if lawmakers fail to approve another short-term stopgap measure or long-term FY 2011 budget bill in time.

From The Daily Beast: How did we get here? Democrats didnít pass a 2011 budget last yearó instead, they passed a placeholder resolution. Then Republicans shellacked Democrats in midterm elections, bringing in Tea Partiers fiercely dedicated to cutting the federal budget.

And Register Star blogger Ted Biondo wrote this back in February, when the shutdown was looming:Itís time for the Democrats to stop spending more than they take from us in taxes. The Democrats need to listen to the will of the majority of the American people from the last election or they will hear it loud and clear in 2012, when 21 Democratic Senate seats, with 2 independent seats†and only 10 Republican seats are up for election out of the 33 total.